"I was utterly thrilled to be brought back to GH for the 50th anniversary and really enjoyed working with [executive producer] Frank Valentini, but I was not over the moon about the writing," Kanan said. "Doing stories about panic attacks and relish was not what I thought I'd signed up for. I feel I brought everything I could to the character yet it was obvious they weren't going to give me a great love story, which I found very disappointing."

GH head writer Ron Carlivati responded on Twitter: "His comments are like school in the summertime. No class."

"Deacon is my favorite of all the characters I've played," Kanan added.

Billy Warlock, who played A.J. on GH from 1997-2003 and again in 2005, reacted to the news that Kanan is leaving the role in a series of tweets. He wrote, "I must say if it's true about SK I am truly bummed. Not just for him but for AJ as well. SK was a great AJ! Go B&B. Believe when I say I'm not lobbying. It's just how I feel. That character has never been given a fair shake."

Kanan will be a presenter at the upcoming 5th Annual Indie Series Awards on April 2nd at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

16 comments:

Yea, I am so happy he is leaving GH. I don't like his acting and I really hope they let A.J. ride off into the sunset. I was never happy they brought him (actor and character) back, will be thrilled if they let him "die" again.

I totally disagree. Let's not forget that AJ was a kidnapper, drunk driver and dead child-faker who pretended to be dead to avoid prosecution. Whether you liked his storyline or not, there was no way I would buy him as a traditional leading man right off the bat. Plus his story got sidelined for Robin's return. I don't see how it was okay for Kanan to throw shade at GH but not okay for Carlivati to respond. Personally, I was offended because I am a current GH fan and very much liked Kanan's work so his comments, just my interpretation, were that it was all just a big waste of time to him. So good luck at B&B where poached GH stars like Sarah Joy Brown, Rick Hearst and more have all been heralded with much fan fare and then disappeared.

The writing is awful? Do you miss the days of it being nothing but Sonny, Jason, Carly and Sam five days a week? I sure don't. Nothing against those actors. I know it was THE HEADWRITER then (Guza) and the EP (Phelps) at fault for all that mob crap. I like the larger canvas Valentini and Carlivati has brought.

The stories drag on? OMG. You must be a teen or twenty-something. I'm 48 and remember when a REAL storyline were told over a couple years, if not longer.

I have the right to my opinion so yes the writing IS awful. Ron Carlivati ruined OLTL....again my opinion. Yes I thought the jason sonny carly sam show was a bit much, but some of the stuff he writes is just stupid. I mean a love triangle between spencer emma and cameron are you kidding me? Oh and FYI im 40 so yes I do remember longer ( more exciting) storylines. I meant these boring storylines are dragging on. I watched all ABC soaps since 1988!

While I was enjoying his work as A.J I understand why he wants to go, after the murder of connie storyline they really did nothing with the character. I cant wait to see him back as Deacon. oh and I must say I love the love triangle with Spencer Emma and cameron its cute and funny.

I admit to not being a fan of Sean Kanan's return to GH. I felt his acting was lacking the first few months of his latest stint as AJ but there was no denying that AJ's return had the most impact of any other character in the past 10 years! AJ generated stories for Michael, Monica, Tracy, Sonny and Carly.

GH hit pay-dirt with the pair of AJ/Carly and chose to not explore it beyond an one-night stand and a few barbs. Laura Wright had a chemistry in a handful of scenes with Sean Kanan that she cannot approximate that with Roger Howarth's Franco.

AJ went from front-burner to barely appearing in favor of Franco, Kiki, Silas, Julian, Carlos and Ava (granted, I like Ava.)

The audience was teased with a potential pairing of Elizabeth and AJ to only never the mainly off-screen romance. I have loved Rebecca Herbst for nearly two decades as Liz and she is barely written for! We never even saw one date or their performance at the Nurses' Ball but we sure got a lot of Sabrina!

My point is that AJ could've and should've been an integral character on the show but he was reduced to a whiny, emotionally-crippled, alcoholic with no real story but lots of potential and a built-in fan base. Kanan's acting definitely improved from the rocky start and he is a valuable character if the writer's a.) respected the show's history and b.) cared about the audience.

Carvialti is petty and self-indulgent (see treatment of Robin Strasser on OLTL who was not written into the show's finale or GH's botched returns of Laura, Frisco and Robin.) His self-interests outweighs the enjoyment of the audience (see the unnecessary creation of characters for Roger Howarth, Kristen Alderson and Michael Easton.) His writing is one-note and the dialogue is often cringe-inducing. GH has a bloated cast and stories with little to no return on audience investment. Why the soap opera press never call him to the mat is beyond me. I gave up on GH months ago...although I am dying to see Donna Mills. LOL.

AJ has his problems, but being a mobster is not better. I really hope the fallout with people finding out what Sonny did does come out, even if it's on AJ's last words. Sonny might get off by saying he did it to save Ava or something, but maybe Michael will make him pay emotionally. That will actually be almost enough for me.

sure AJ did all of that stuff but GH's leading men are mobsters and serial killers, as far as i remember AJ didn't kill anyone and was doing those things because his child was stolen from him because the child's mother thought a mobster was better father material than a drunken businessman, AJ could have and did get sober but sonny is still a mobster who kidnaps and kills people and w/sonny as his dad Michael was shot in the head and raped and killed his stepmom and almost killed his dad's girlfriend.

Who did Sonny actually kill? He is the weakest mob boss ever. LOL. I only mean so many people are not really afraid of him. I guess that's why I have never minded Sonny and of course there is the "dimples" thing. Anyhou, I for one, am glad AJ is leaving so maybe Michael can stop walking around with that tortured look on his face and be semi happy again.